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Monday, November 4, 2013

Today

Today I am..

Feeling..The bitter chill of a November morning. Frost is on the ground all around us, the trees are bare, the sky is forbiddingly far from our tiny house, and the guns are loud in the distance. I fret about them, dressing us both in bright red and orange, and sticking close to the yard.

Seeing..my notebook, closed on yet another draft. Petka has been the two-year-old incarnation of patience with Seth and I this weekend, as we both delve into a month of writing and creative distraction. She deserves, and is getting a reward for that patience, a day of "Just Us" baking and singing and laughing and playing..and cleaning, because, well..I can't deal with the house when it's all messy and gross.

Tasting..tea and Soul Cake: The base of the recipe is essentially the Cardamom, Orange, and Pistachio Saint Cake, but not. It involves mixing 2/3 c. Raw sugar with just under a cup of mild oil (sunflower being ideal), adding in 3 beaten eggs and a bit of vanilla, 1 chopped and peeled apple, about 1/2 chopped dried figs, 3 chopped up pieces of candied ginger, a teaspoon grated fresh ginger, a sprinkling of cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg, and mixing all this together before adding a cup whole wheat flour sifted in with about two teaspoons baking powder and a couple handfuls of white flour. Drizzle in about 1/3 cup warm milk and bake at 325-350 in mini spring-form pans..or a loaf pan, or cupcake tins..for ..umm..I have no idea..check after about 20 minutes, and keep checking until a knife come out clean and the cakes are all golden and delicious on top. Then, if you'd like to eat them with coffee after dinner, whisk together about a cup of honey, about 1/8 cup brandy, and about 1/8-1/4 cup crushed almonds and pour it as a glaze all over the cakes. If you put these out on your altar, you are guaranteed to garner the prayers of all your resident saints and especially the poor souls in Purgatory, who rarely get any treats, and need liquor to relax every now and again, in the long process of purification!

St. Francis turns from temptation..This is the Saint Cake..even Francis couldn't turn away from the Soul Cakes.

Listening.. to " 'Most people, don't think enough about how lucky they are/ most people don't know what it takes for me to get through the day./ Most people don't talk enough about the love in their hearts.'/ But She doesn't know most people feel the same way." by Dawes.

Grateful...for a wonderful weekend, for beautiful Liturgies and warm days through Saturday. For lots of wood stacked close to the house, hot tea, and the prayers of friends.

Reading..My husband's short stories..I'm acting as editor this morning while he works. They are delightful!

Loving..my black cords, gym membership, and the knowledge that I will be getting a new computer-with-working USB ports sometime soon!

Hoping..to make November stand out as a time of joy, creativity, and productivity. I'm off to a great start too!!!!